Joseph f



(No Model.)

J. 1?..HANRAHAN.

REFRIGERATOR BUILDING.

Patented Nov Jaw/Rim mim,

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NETE TAES JOSEPH F. HANRAHAN, OF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

REFRIGERATOR-BUILDING.

$PECIFICATIOIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,917, dated November 13, 1888.

Original application filed November '2, 1886, Serial No. 217,832. 'Divided and this application filed January 31, 1887. Renewed October 12, 1888. Serial No. 287,974. (No model.)

construction set forth in Letters Patent of the,

United States heretofore granted to me,- dated and numbered, respectively, November 4, 1884, No. 307,459; July 21, 1885, No. 322,446, and October 20, 1885, No. 328,483.

The improvements herein set forth are particularly directed to adapting the apparatus to places and situations where floor-space or ground-room is limited, a result which I attain by placing the cooling-chamber above the storage-chamber. This idea, broadly considered, is of course very old; but the manner in which I apply and utilize this principle is, I believe, new.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a structure embodying the aforesaid improvements, showing the downflue at the center, and Fig. 2 a similar view showing said flue at one side.

The improvements are applicable to structures of all kinds, including permanent buildings, ships, cars, &c., any of which may be represented by the figures given.

The structure is advisably built with nonconducting walls, floor, and ceiling, and is divided into an upper chamber, A, and alower chamber, B, by a horizontal partition or diaphragm, G, from which walls D rise nearly to the top of chamber A, they being removed somewhat from the inner walls of the main structure to form fines E, through which warm air may pass to the top of chamber A.

F indicates a flue extending from the bot tom of chamber Ato near the bottom of chamber B, to convey cool air from the former to the latter. This flue communicates with fiues a, extending across the room to-the opposite side, in case the flue D be at one side, as in Fig." 2, or to both walls, in case it be at the middle, as in Fig. 1. The fiues a may be conveniently formed by placing joists on edge at suitable distances apart, and are covered by boards or slats b, separated sufficiently to permit the cool air to rise freely at all points through the floor,which they form. This construction insures a thorough distribution of the cold air throughout all parts of the storage chamber 13. At the lower end of the downfiue F, I provide a curved deflector, a, single or double, as required, for a central or for a side flue, and above the diaphragm or floor O, separating chambers A and B, Iplace a secondary floor, G. This floor G, where it extends over the upper end of flue F is provided with an opening or openings, d, and with a valve or valves, 6, for closing the same, said valve or valves being connected with and controlled by a rod, H, extending down into chamber B, and there connected with a handlever, I, by which the rod may be raised and lowered to open or close the valve or valves. This lever I moves over a toothed or notched arc and is provided with a locking dog or pawl,f, to hold the lever, and consequently the valves, at any desired adjustment.

\Vhen the valves are opened, the air from chamber Ais free to pass directlyinto the flue F from said chamber; but when said valves are closed the air is forced to pass beneath the secondary floor G before it can enter the flue F. In this way I am enabled to control the flow of the air-current and to hold the air for a greater or less length of time in contact with the cooling body.

Beneath the fioor or diaphragm O is a false or secondary ceiling, J, which extends nearly to the flue D at one side and to the outer wall of chamber B at the other side, leaving sufficient openings, 9 and h, for the entrance of air into the space between the diaphragm U and the ceiling J. V

The chamber A is designed to contain ice or any cooling agent or apparatus, it being, however, preferred to employ therein'a series of pipes, K, or other hollow body, for the circulation of brine or other non-congealable liquid, cooled by any suitable external means-ice,

chemical agents, or mechanical appliances;

or, instead of being supplied with such refrigerated liquid, the pipes may serve for the circulation and expansion of highly-compressed air or gas.

The apparatus for cooling the liquid or compressing the fluid may be of any well-known type, such as now used for ice-making and for refrigerating purposes generally, my invention having reference to the utilization of cold, in whatever manner produced, rather than to the production of cold.

The size of chamber A relatively to that of chamber B, both as to vertical measurement and to its extent in the direction of the length or breadth of the structure, may vary as desired; and in view of the fact that the proportions may need to be varied according to the special purpose for which the structure is intended no definite relation can be stated.

The downflue F is a highly-important feature of my construction, for the reason that it insures the delivery of the cold air at the bottom of the storage-chamber and its distribution over the same, instead of allowing it to pass directly across the top of said chamber back to the cooling-chamber. The secondary ceiling J and the passage t formed between it and the diaphragm or partition (1 are also of great importance, for the reason that as the air passes up through opening it at the outer side of the storage-chamber it creates a draft or suction through the passage 13 and sucks air from chamber B through opening 9, at which point there would otherwise be a body of dead or torpid air, which, becoming charged with odors and with moisture, would seriously interfere with the efficiency of the apparatus.

It will be observed that the pipes fill the chamber A from wall to wall, with only such space between them as will afi'ord free travel of the air over and among them, this being necessary in order to compel the air to come into close contact with the pipes and become thoroughly cooled, instead of passing directly through the chamber at such distance from the pipes as to lose, in whole or in part, the cooling and purifying effect.

A. depression or gutter is made around the upper end or mouth of flue F to catch any water that-may form by condensation of moisture or from melting of ice, and to carry the same off to a pipe or other outlet.

Having thus described my invention, what I I chamber A, provided with opening d, valve 6,

applied to said opening, and a rod extending from thevalve to the lower chamber for operating the valve.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F; H ANRAHAN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. DODGE, WALTER S. DODGE. 

